Hotel porter, 29, dies after saving BA crew from fire in bedroom

Two British Airways cabin crew members who accidentally started a fire in a Bangkok hotel room face legal action after a Thai man who helped to rescue them died.

The blaze was said to have been caused by candles the pair had lit in the room. The flames spread to a TV set and the man and his female colleague were saved by hotel staff who forced their way in and dragged them to safety.

The two crew, who were strike-breaking in the ongoing dispute between BA and the Unite union, recovered in hospital and returned to Britain this week, but a 29-year-old night porter who suffered smoke inhalation has died.

Thai Police Lt-Col Suphong Karuna said today that BA bosses and management of the Amari Atrium Hotel had taken a "sensible approach" to the matter, which was why the airline workers had been released.

"They gave their word that this would be dealt with amicably, which means the family will be compensated for their loss," he said.

The fire started on the 20th floor of the hotel in the early hours of June 2. Police said the room was registered to Paul Younger, 42, and that his colleague, Lesley Ann Smith, in her thirties, was also in there, but was registered to another room on the same floor.

"There was no need to light candles," Mr Karuna added. "There were no power cuts. The fire was contained quite quickly after the smoke alarms went off, but the smoke from the TV was very toxic."

Mr Karuna said the porter had died 90 minutes after helping to rescue the BA workers. "His family said he suffered from breathing problems, like asthma, which seem to have contributed to his death."

BA confirmed two crew members went to hospital. A spokesman for the Onyx Hospitality Group, which represents the Amari Atrium, said the hotel "had and continues to have full fire and safety regulations and fire prevention methods and systems in place".